While last night was hopefully filled with good times for all our readers, we’ve got some sad news to start 2014. James Avery, best known for his role as Uncle Phil from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has passed away. He was 65 years old. According to TMZ, the beloved actor died in an L.A. hospital last night. While the cause of death has yet to be confirmed, he reportedly underwent surgery for an undisclosed illness recently.

Fresh Prince co-star Alfonso Ribeira, who played Avery’s son Carlton Banks, wrote on Facebook:

The world has lost a truly special man. I am very saddened to say that James Avery has passed. Even though he played my father on TV, he was a wonderful father figure to me in life. He will be deeply missed.